The Unioto Shermans won the battle of SVC boys basketball unbeaten teams Saturday to grab sole possession of first place, 55-45.
The game featured several long scoring runs by each team, but the one at the end of the game was that which sealed the victory for the (5-0) Shermans.
Trailing 8-7 in the first quarter, Adena's 8-0 run gave them their biggest lead of the contest at 15-8, before Unioto answered to cut the deficit to 15-12 after the first quarter.
The second period might have been the difference of the game, with Unioto outscoring the Warriors 18-6 for a 30-21 halftime lead.
Adena battled back from a 42-26 deficit, to shave the margin to 42-35 after three periods and got to within 46-45, but were unable to get the lead back as the Tanks went 9/10 from the free throw line in the closing minutes to seal victory.
Unioto shot 63% from the field at 20/32- including 5/9 from the arc and went 10/14 from the foul line. Adena shot 43% on 16/37- including 4/14 from the arc and 9/14 from the foul line.
Unioto won the rebounding battle 19-15 with the Shermans committing 10 turnovers to Adena's 7.
Isaac Little led all players with 19 points, with 6'5 freshman teammate Tayvion Galloway scoring 15 points and blocking 2 shots, while Cameron DeBord added 10 points. DeSean Branson scored 6 points- including a turn-around three-pointer from the right wing off a loose ball to end the first half. Evan Park added 5.
Adena was led by Preston Sykes 14 points and 8 rebounds with Logan Bennett adding 13 points and Jarrett Garrison 9 points. Nate Throckmorton and Dillon McDonald added 5 and 4 respectively.
Unioto improves to (5-0/7-2) as Adena falls to (4-1/9-2).
Hear the WKKJ replay on our podcast link below...(starts at 2-2 midway through first quarter)...